EL SALVADOR: Preventive Coup

Through pattering rain, ten armed
soldiers and three officers marched up the driveway of the San Salvador
mansion of President Jose Maria Lemus at 10'clock one morning last
week. The group's leader drew his pearl-handled Luger pistol, rapped
discreetly at the door, waited. The door opened, and there stood
Lemus barefoot, wearing blue pajamas. "What's up?'' he asked. "You
are no longer President, my colonel," said the officer. "In fact, you
are under arrest.''

Still in pajamas, the ex-President was whisked to a downtown fort for 24
hours' safekeeping before flying off...